Washer holder and washer supply device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a washer holder comprising a processed sheet in which a plurality of washer-receiving depressions each having an inner diameter fitted to an outer diameter of a washer to be held are arranged and formed, wherein the washer is received in the washer-receiving depression, and one surface of the washer is releasably held on the bottom surface of the washer-receiving depression through an adhesive. A small-diameter depressed portion is preferably formed in a central region of the bottom surface of the washer-receiving depression. The bottom surface of each of the washer-receiving depressions preferably has releasability. The washer supply device comprising the washer holder described above and washers received in the respective washer-receiving depressions and caused to adhere and held by an adhesive layer on the bottom surfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washer holder and a washer supplydevice.

A washer, which is a mechanical element, is generally in the form of anannular ring plate of round shape and mainly used for locking a fastenedstate of a bolt or screw, and is also effectively used as, for example,a spacer for adjustment of height or a protector for preventing a baseplate from being damaged when a metal screw is fastened. That made of asynthetic resin is also widely used as such a washer in addition to ametal washer.

In an assembling work of, for example, a certain industrial product (forexample, an automobile), provisional readjustment is often urgentlyrequired. In such a case, it is requested to choose that considered asproper among many kinds (for example, 200 kinds) of washers havingvarious thicknesses and sizes and arrange it in a so-called temporarilyfixed state. The reason for this is that it is often requested toconduct actual screwing in a step at another place, and in such a case,the screwing is not conducted immediately just after the arrangement ofthe washers.

An adherent washer having an adhesive (pressure-sensitive adhesive)layer formed on one surface of a washer has heretofore been used fromsuch requests as described above. In this adherent washer, the externalsurface of the adhesive layer is covered by a protective sheet composedof release paper. Upon use, the release paper is released and removedfrom the adhesive layer to expose the adhesive layer, and the washer iscaused to adhere to a place of which temporary fixing is required,whereby the temporarily fixed state can be realized.

In such an adherent washer having the release paper, however, highworking efficiency cannot be attained because an operation to remove therelease paper is considerably troublesome in an actual working. Inaddition, there is a problem that when a washer, from which releasepaper has been removed once, turns out to be actually improper, thiswasher is wasted because it is almost impossible to stick the releasepaper again in the original state.

Under the foregoing circumstances, there has been developed a washersupply device that a releasable sheet subjected to a releasing treatmentat its surface is used as a base sheet, and a great number of adherentwashers are caused to adhere to the surface of the base sheet by theadhesive layers thereof to hold them, and the device has been put topractical use. According to such a washer supply device, the state thatexpected washers have been temporarily fixed can be realized with highworking efficiency by providing various kinds of washer supply devicesobtained by causing washers having a certain thickness and a certainsize to adhere to a common base sheet to hold them as to each of variouskinds of washers having various thicknesses and sizes, choosing andseparating proper washers from the base sheet and causing them to adhereto necessary places through the adhesive layers thereof.

However, the washer supply device making good use of the base sheetcomposed of such a releasable sheet as described above involves aproblem that when washers having a large thickness are held, settingaside washers having a small thickness, the washers are transferred ordisplaced on the base sheet by external force during shipping ortransport thereof, or are often separated down from the base sheet, andeven when the device is contained in a packaging bag, the washersseparated from the base sheet are bonded to each other by the respectiveadhesive layers in the packaging bag to create a state of randomaggregates, after all, resulting in the fact that the washers cannot beconveniently used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made on the basis of the foregoingcircumstances and has as its object the provision of a washer holdercapable of stably holding washers to be held at predetermined holdingpositions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washer supplydevice using such a washer holder.

The washer holder according to the present invention comprises aprocessed sheet in which a plurality of washer-receiving depressionseach having an inner diameter fitted to an outer diameter of a washer tobe held are arranged and formed, wherein

the washer to be held is received in the washer-receiving depression,and one surface of the washer is releasably held on the bottom surfaceof the washer-receiving depression through an adhesive.

In the washer holder according to the present invention, it may bepreferable that the washer-receiving depression has a circular form, andthe inner diameter is larger by 1 to 5 mm than the outer diameter of thewasher to be held. It may also be preferable that the depth of thewasher-receiving depression is 0.5 to 3.0 mm. It may further bepreferable that the inner diameter of the washer-receiving depression is6 to 35 mm, and the outer diameter of the washer to be held is 5 to 30mm.

In the washer holder according to the present invention, it may bepreferable that a circular small-diameter depressed portion having aninner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the washer to be heldis formed in a central region of the bottom surface of thewasher-receiving depression.

In this case, the inner diameter of the small-diameter depressed portionof the washer holder may preferably be larger by at least 1 mm than theinner diameter of the washer to be held.

The washer holder according to the present invention preferably has afirst washer-receiving depression row with washer-receiving depressionshaving the same form as one another formed in a row along a firstarrangement line extending in one direction, and a secondwasher-receiving depression row with washer-receiving depressions havingthe same form as the washer-receiving depressions in the firstwasher-receiving depression row formed in a row along a secondarrangement line extending in parallel with the first arrangement line,wherein

a gap distance between the first arrangement line and the secondarrangement line is equivalent to or smaller than the size of the innerdiameter of each washer-receiving depression.

In the washer holder according to the present invention, the processedsheet may be composed of a synthetic resin sheet.

The processed sheet may preferably have releasability on at least thebottom surfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.

The washer supply device according to the present invention comprisesthe washer holder described above and washers received in the respectivewasher-receiving depressions of the washer holder and caused to adhereand held by an adhesive layer formed on one surface of each washer onthe bottom surfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.

According to the washer holder of the present invention, a washer supplydevice is made up by holding washers fitted to the washer-receivingdepressions thereof. According to this washer supply device, the washersare caused to adhere and held by each adhesive layer in a state receivedin the respective washer-receiving depressions, so that the washers areprevented from coming off their corresponding washer-receivingdepressions to displace or transfer even when external force is appliedduring, for example, shipping or transport thereof, and the stably heldstate can be retained. Accordingly, the expected washer-arrangingoperation can be conducted with high efficiency by obtaining washers tobe used by means of this washer supply device.

According to the washer holder, in which the circular small-diameterdepressed portion having an inner diameter larger than the innerdiameter of a washer to be held is formed in a central region of thebottom surface of each washer-receiving depression, the state that eachwasher is caused to surely adhere to the bottom surface of thewasher-receiving depression can be attained even when the so-called burris formed on an inner peripheral edge of the washer in a stateprotruding outward in a thickness-wise direction of the washer becausethe burr is located within the small-diameter depressed portion. Afterall, even the washer having the inner burr can be stably held in thewasher-receiving depression.

Further, the washer-receiving depressions are arranged along two lineararrangement lines extending in parallel with each other, and a gapdistance between the two arrangement lines is equivalent to or smallerthan the size of the inner diameter of each washer-receiving depression,whereby a great number of washer-receiving depressions can be formed ata high density in one washer holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a washer holder according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating, on an enlarged scale, astate that an adherent washer has been held in a washer-receivingdepression of the washer holder in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS

-   10 Washer holder-   12 Long side-   20 Washer-receiving depression-   22 Bottom wall portion-   24 Small-diameter depressed portion-   W Washer-   S Adhesive layer-   L1 First arrangement line-   L2 Second arrangement line-   L3 Third arrangement line-   L4 Fourth arrangement line-   201 First receiving depression row-   202 Second receiving depression row-   203 Third receiving depression row-   204 Fourth receiving depression row

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be describedwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a washer holder according to anembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectionalview illustrating, on an enlarged scale, a washer-receiving depressionof the washer holder.

The washer holder 10 of this embodiment is composed of a processedsheet, in which a great number of washer-receiving depressions(hereinafter also referred to as “receiving depressions” merely) 20 in astate depressed from the surface of a flat plate-like resin sheet havingreleasability on the surface thereof are formed by subjecting the resinsheet to a deformation processing.

In a central region of a bottom wall portion 22 of each of the receivingdepressions 20, a circular small-diameter depressed portion 24 is formedconcentrically with the receiving depression 20 in a state depressedfurther downward from the bottom surface of the receiving depression,whereby the bottom surface of the receiving depression 20 is formedannular-stepwise.

No particular limitation is imposed on the resin sheet forming theprocessed sheet. However, for example, a polyethylene terephthalatesheet-having a thickness of 30 to 100 μm may preferably be used. Theresin sheet having releasability on the surface thereof includes thatobtained by coating the surface with, for example, a silicone releaseagent. No particular limitation is imposed on a method of thedeformation processing for obtaining the processed sheet. However, forexample, a vacuum forming processing may be utilized.

An example of the size of each receiving depression 20 in the washerholder 10 is, for example, such that the inner diameter D1 is 16 mm, thedepth T1 is 1 mm, the inner diameter D2 of the small-diameter depressedportion 24 is 8 mm, and the depth T2 is 0.5 mm. A washer W to be held bythis washer holder 10 is an adherent washer, on one surface of which anadhesive layer S is provided, and the outer diameter d1 thereof is 12 to14 mm, the inner diameter d2 is 4 to 7, and the thickness t is 1 to 2mm.

The receiving depression 20 in the washer holder 10 is required to havean inner diameter D1 larger than the outer diameter d1 of the washer Wto be held. A difference a (D1−d1) between the diameters is preferably 1to 5 mm. If the difference a is smaller than 1 mm, there is apossibility that easiness of working for accommodating the washer W inthe receiving depression 20 and working for removing the washer W fromthe receiving depression 20 may be lowered.

Since the outer diameter d1 of the washer W is generally 5 to 30 mm, theinner diameter D1 of the receiving depression 20 is preset to 6 to 35mm.

The depth T1 of the receiving depression 20 is required to be at least0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm. However, it is practically notrequired to exceed 3.0 mm. The depth T1 of this receiving depression 20is preferably equivalent to or smaller than the thickness t1 of thewasher W. If the depth is too great, the easiness of removing the washeris lowered.

The small-diameter depressed portion 24 in the receiving depression 20has an inner diameter D2 larger than the inner diameter d2 of the washerW and is provided for holding the washer W accommodated in the receivingdepression 20 in a state that an inner peripheral edge at a lowersurface of the washer W is exposed within the small-diameter depressedportion 24. Accordingly, the inner diameter D2 of the small-diameterdepressed portion 24 is required to be larger by, for example, at least1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm than the inner diameter d2 of the washerW. Actually, the inner diameter D2 is more preferably greater by atleast the difference a (D1−d1) between the inner diameter D1 of thereceiving depression 20 and the outer diameter d1 of the washer W thanthe inner diameter d2 of the washer W, whereby the washer W is held in astate that the inner peripheral edge of the washer W is always locatedwithin the small-diameter depressed portion 24 even when the washer W isdisplaced in the receiving depression 20. However, a width (d1−D2) of anadhered region, in which the adhesive layer S of the washer W is causedto adhere, is required to be at least 50% of a difference (d1−d2)between the outer diameter d1 and the inner diameter d2 of the washer W.

According to the receiving depression 20, in which the small-diameterdepressed portion 24 having such an inner diameter D2 as described aboveis formed, the inner peripheral edge at the lower surface of the washerW is in a state surely exposed within the small-diameter depressedportion 24 even when the washer W exists at whatever position within thereceiving depression 20.

In the washer holder 10, a great number of such receiving depressions 20as described above are arranged as illustrated in FIG. 1.

More specifically, the washer holder 10 is composed of a processed sheetin the form of a rectangle as a whole, and a first receiving depressionrow 201 is formed by arranging, for example, n (five in FIG. 1)receiving depressions 20 in a row at a pitch P larger than the innerdiameter D1 thereof along a linear first arrangement line L1 extendingalong a long side 12 of the sheet. A second receiving depression row 202is also formed by arranging, for example, (n−1) receiving depressions 20in a row at a pitch P somewhat larger than the inner diameter D1 thereofalong a second arrangement line L2 parallel to the first arrangementline L1. A gap distance g between the first arrangement line L1 and thesecond arrangement line L2 is smaller than the inner diameter D1 of thereceiving depression 20, and each of the receiving depressions 20belonging to the second receiving depression row 202 is located at acentral position in a direction of the arrangement line between twoadjoining each other among the receiving depressions 20 belonging to thefirst receiving depression row 201.

Further, a third receiving depression row 203 is formed likewise byarranging receiving depressions 20 in the same manner as in the firstreceiving depression row 201 along a third arrangement line L3 parallelto the second arrangement line L2, and a fourth receiving depression row204 is formed by arranging receiving depressions 20 in the same manneras in the second receiving depression row 202 along a fourth arrangementline L4 parallel to the third arrangement line L3. In the same manner asdescribed above, the necessary number of receiving depressions 20 arearranged and formed, whereby the receiving depressions are arranged inthe so-called staggered arrangement state as a whole.

In the above embodiment, no particular limitation is imposed on thenumber of receiving depressions 20 in one receiving depression row andthe number of arrangement lines, and the numbers may be optional. Noparticular limitation is also imposed on the total number of receivingdepressions 20 in one washer holder 10, and the number may be preset to,for example, 50 to 200.

According to the washer holder 10 of such construction as describedabove, washers having a form fitted to the receiving depression 20 areaccommodated and held through the adhesive layer, thereby making up awasher supply device.

Specifically described, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an adherent washer Whaving an outer diameter d1 smaller than the inner diameter D1 of thereceiving depression 20, on one surface of which an adhesive layer S isformed, is held by causing it to adhere to the bottom surface (i.e., anupper surface of the bottom wall portion 22) of the receiving depression20 making use of the adhesive layer S.

In such a washer supply device, each washer W is not only caused toadhere to the washer holder 10 by virtue of the tackiness of theadhesive layer S, but also laid in a state received in the receivingdepression 20 to prevent it, by the inner peripheral wall surface of thereceiving depression 20, from coming off the receiving depression 20 totransfer.

Accordingly, even when the thickness t of each washer W is great, thestate stably held within the receiving depression 20 is retained evenwhen external force is applied during shipping or transport of thewasher supply device. Accordingly, the washer supply device is used toprovide washers, whereby an expected washer-arranging operation can beconducted with high efficiency.

The small-diameter depressed portion 24 is formed in a central region ofthe bottom wall portion 22 of each receiving depression 20, and an innerperipheral edge at a lower surface of the washer W is laid in a stateexposed by virtue of the small-diameter depressed portion 24, so thateven when the so-called burr (not illustrated) protruding outward in athickness-wise direction of the washer is formed on the inner peripheraledge, the burr is located within the small-diameter depressed portion,whereby the close adhesion of the lower surface of the washer to theupper surface (bottom surface of the receiving depression 20) of thebottom wall portion 22 in the receiving depression 20 is not inhibitedby the burr. Accordingly, the state that the lower surface of the washerW is caused to surely adhere to the bottom surface of the receivingdepression 20 through the adhesive layer S can be attained. Theabove-described burr is generally unavoidably formed when the washersare produced by, for example, punching.

When the small-diameter depressed portion 24 is formed in the receivingdepression 20, a washer arranging process can be surely achieved bymeans of an automatic washer-removing device that enters within thecentral hole of the washer W held in the receiving depression 20 toengage with the inner peripheral surface or inner peripheral edgethereof, thereby removing the washer W from the receiving depression 20of the washer holder 10.

The receiving depressions 20 are arranged along the linear arrangementlines L1, L2, L3, . . . extending in parallel with each other, and a gapdistance g between two arrangement lines adjoining each other isequivalent to or smaller than the size of the inner diameter of thereceiving depression 20, whereby a great number of receiving depressions20 can be formed at a high density in one washer holder.

A plurality of the receiving depressions 20 are formed in a row alongthe linear arrangement line as described above, thereby obtaining amerit that washers W are easily treated by, for example, an automaticwasher-operating apparatus.

Although the specific embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed above, various changes or modifications may be added theretoin the present invention.

For example, no particular limitation is imposed on the kind andthickness of the material for the sheet making up the washer holder. Forexample, sheets of synthetic resins such as polyethylene andpolypropylene in addition to polyethylene terephthalate, compositesheets obtained by laminating a resin film on a paper base, and those,to which a deformation processing can be subjected, may be used.

In order to obtain a processed sheet having releasability on the surfacethereof, a resin sheet or composite sheet having releasability on thesurface in itself may also be used without depending on the means forapplying a release agent.

In the present invention, the form of each receiving depression is notlimited to the circular form so far as the transfer of a washer receivedcan be prevented.

No particular limitation is also imposed on the number of receivingdepressions formed in one washer holder and the arranged state thereof,and they may be entirely freely selected.

The present invention will hereinafter be described specifically by thefollowing Examples. However, the present invention is not limited tothese examples.

A synthetic resin sheet composed of polyethylene terephthalate having athickness of 38 μm, to which a releasability-imparting treatment hadbeen subjected by coating the surface thereof with a silicone releaseagent, was subjected to a vacuum forming processing, thereby producing awasher holder 125 mm long and 190 mm broad, in which eighty-six (86)receiving depressions in total, which each had a small-diameterdepressed portion having an inner diameter D2 of 8 mm and a depth T2 of0.5 mm, and each of which had inner diameter D1 of 12 mm and depth T1 of1 mm, were arranged in a zigzag form. This washer holder is such thatnine receiving depression rows in total are formed, ten receivingdepressions and nine receiving depressions are arranged at a pitch P of17 mm in receiving depression rows in odd numbers and receivingdepression rows in even numbers, respectively, and a gap distance gbetween the arrangement lines of receiving depression rows adjoiningeach other is 12 mm.

Washers each having an outer diameter d1 of 10 mm, an inner diameter d2of 5.2 mm and a thickness t of 2 mm, on one surface of which an adhesivelayer had been formed, were held in all the receiving depressions of thewasher holder by causing them to adhere through the adhesive layer,thereby producing a washer supply device.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 1

An experiment that the washer supply device obtained in theabove-described manner is placed on a horizontal surface and manuallyreciprocated at an acceleration of about 0.5 G by a distance of 30 cm ina lateral direction on the horizontal surface was performed as to 10washer supply devices in total. As a result, it was found that thenumber of washers coming off the respective receiving depressions waszero in all the washer supply devices.

On the other hand, the same washers as described above in the samenumber were caused to adhere and held in the same arranged state on thesurface of a polyethylene terephthalate sheet having a thickness of 38μm, to which the same releasability-imparting treatment had beensubjected except that no receiving depressions had been formed, therebyproducing a comparative washer supply device. Ten such washer supplydevices were reciprocated in the same manner as described above. As aresult, it was found that displacement occurred on eight washers inaverage per one device, and the maximum distance thereof was 5 mm.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 2

An experiment that the same washer supply device as described above iscaused to manually circle in the air once a second was performed as toten washer supply devices in total. As a result, it was found that thenumber of washers coming off the respective receiving depressions waszero.

1. A washer holder comprising a processed sheet in which a plurality ofwasher-receiving depressions each having an inner diameter fitted to anouter diameter of a washer to be held are arranged and formed, whereinthe washer to be held is received in the washer-receiving depression,and one surface of the washer is releasably held on the bottom surfaceof the washer-receiving depression through an adhesive.
 2. The washerholder according to claim 1, wherein the washer-receiving depression hasa circular form, and the inner diameter is larger by 1 to 5 mm than theouter diameter of the washer to be held.
 3. The washer holder accordingto claim 1, wherein the depth of the washer-receiving depression is 0.5to 3.0 mm.
 4. The washer holder according to claim 1, wherein the innerdiameter of the washer-receiving depression is 6 to 35 mm, and the outerdiameter of the washer to be held to 30 mm.
 5. The washer holderaccording to claim 1, wherein a circular small-diameter depressedportion having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of thewasher be held is formed in a central region of the bottom surface ofthe washer-receiving depression.
 6. The washer holder according to claim5, wherein the inner diameter of the small-diameter depressed portion ofthe washer holder is larger by at least 1 mm than the inner diameter ofthe washer to be held.
 7. The washer holder according to claim 1 whichhas a first washer-receiving depression row with washer-receivingdepressions having the same form as one another formed in a row along afirst arrangement line extending in one direction, and a secondwasher-receiving depression row with washer-receiving depressions havingthe same form as the washer-receiving depressions in the firstwasher-receiving depression row formed in a row along a secondarrangement line extending in parallel with the first arrangement line,wherein a gap distance between the first arrangement line and the secondarrangement line is equivalent to or smaller than the size of the innerdiameter of each washer-receiving depression.
 8. The washer holderaccording to claim 7, wherein the processed sheet is composed of asynthetic resin sheet.
 9. The washer holder according to claim 8,wherein the processed sheet has releasability on at least the bottomsurfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.
 10. A washer supply devicecomprising the washer holder according to claim 1 and washers receivedthe respective washer-receiving depressions of the washer holder andcaused to adhere and held by an adhesive layer formed on one surface ofeach washer on the bottom surfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.11. A washer supply device comprising the washer holder according toclaim 7 and washers received in the respective washer-receivingdepressions of the washer holder and caused to adhere and held by anadhesive layer formed on one surface of each washer on the bottomsurfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.
 12. The washer holderaccording to claim 5 which has a first washer-receiving depression rowwith washer-receiving depressions having the same form as one anotherformed in a row along a first arrangement line extending in onedirection, and a second washer-receiving depression row withwasher-receiving depressions having the same form as thewasher-receiving depressions in the first washer-receiving depressionrow formed in a row along a second arrangement line extending inparallel with the first arrangement line, wherein a gap distance betweenthe first arrangement line and the second arrangement line is equivalentto or smaller than the size of the inner diameter of eachwasher-receiving depression.
 13. A washer supply device comprising thewasher holder according to claim 12 and washers received in therespective washer-receiving depressions of the washer holder and causedto adhere and held by an adhesive layer formed on one surface of eachwasher on the bottom surfaces of the washer-receiving depressions. 14.The washer holder according to claim 12, wherein the processed sheet iscomposed of a synthetic resin sheet.
 15. The washer holder according toclaim 14, wherein the processed sheet has releasability on at least thebottom surfaces of the washer-receiving depressions.
 16. A washer supplydevice comprising the washer holder according to claim 5 and washersreceived the respective washer-receiving depressions of the washerholder and caused to adhere and held by an adhesive layer formed on onesurface of each washer on the bottom surfaces of the washer-receivingdepressions.